Agitator



Jan. 22, 1935. T, M, O'KEEFFE 1,989,019

AGITATOR Filed April 18,

I I'll I4 INVENTOR 7720217615 J71. U

WITNESSES Patented Jan. 22, 1935 I AGITATOR Thomas Michael OKeefie, New York, N. Y.

Application April 18,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to agitators, and more particularly to agitators designed to be positioned in a can containing paint or other material and which is caused to agitate the paint when the can is manually given an oscillating movement.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an agitator which may be manufactured and sold at an extremely low price and which will rest on the bottom of the paint can and the like and which, when the can is oscillated, will agitate the paint, causing it to thoroughly mix.

Heretofore it has been the practice to mix paint by inserting a stick or other device in the bottom of the can and moving the stick about to cause the thicker material which settles at the bottom of the can to be thoroughly agitated and mixed with the lighter liquids or materials. This operation is more or less defective, and by employing an agitator such as contemplated by my invention this old method is dispensed with, and a more thorough and effective mixing operation is assured.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred form of my improved agitator;

Figure 2 is a View partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section showing the agitator in operative position in the can; and

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a modified form of the agitator.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, A represents my improved agitator and B a can in which the agitator is located. The agitator comprises a perforated plate 1, which is preferably circular in form, although it may be otherwise shaped if desired, and the perforations, indicated generally by the reference character 2, may be of any suitable size and shape and arranged in any preferred manner to give the best results.

A central hub 3 is provided integrally of the plate 1 and is preferably tubular in form, and extends above and below the plate, as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawing. On the plate 1 and extending outwardly from the hub 3 to the edge of the plate are a series of curved blades or vanes 4. These blades or vanes are integral with the hub or plate and located on top of the plate, and preferably are narrowest at the center of the plate where they join the plate and then increase 1933, Serial No. 666,724

in height. This is an important feature of this form of my invention as it enables the painter to insert a brush into the can even when the paint is low and take up the paint on the brush at the center of the agitator so that the paint can be exhausted from the can without removing the agitator.

The can B is illustrated as having an ordinary bail 5 thereon which is adapted to be grasped by the hand of the operator, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

With the agitator in the bottom of the can resting on the central hub 3, the bail 5 is grasped and the can is given an oscillating movement, which causes the. can and agitator to move relatively to each other and thoroughly stir the sediment at the bottom of the can and insure the mixing of the paint. By resting the agitator on the hub 3 the agitator is not only given a gen eral oscillating movement but a certain rocking movement as well, which further assists in completely agitating the mixture.

The blades or vanes 4 cause the mixture to be thrown both-inwardly and outwardly, according to the direction of movement of the agitator, and the perforations 2 in the plate 1 permit the contents to freely pass therethrough and also the Walls of these perforations assist greatly in the rapid and thorough agitating and consequent mixing.

In the modified form of my invention, illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, the agitator C has a central hub 6 with a plurality of radially extending triangular agitating members 7 integraltherewith. The base portions of these members '7 constitute perforated plates which correspond in operation to the plate 1 of the preferred form, and at the edges of these plates vertical radially extending blades or vanes 8 are provided which are also perforated. This modified form of device operates in precisely the same manner as the preferred form.

My improved agitator is entirely independent of the mixing can or handled receptacle, and the receptacle can be held at arms length and close to the floor, and a complete and thorough mixing can be had within a very short time. I have found that ordinarily one minute will suffice for a thorough mixing.

Various slight changes may be made with regard to the form and arrangement of parts without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the claim.

What I claim is: In combination with a portable receptacle 5 adapted to contain paint and the like, an agitator located in the receptacle and resting on the bottom thereof, and unconnected with the receptacle or any outside agency, said agitator controlled by gravity and by engagement with the 10 contents of the receptacle to cause-a variance in movement of the agitator from that of the receptacle when the receptacle is oscillated, rotated or otherwise moved, whereby the agitator will cause the contents of the receptacle to mix, said agitator comprising a perforated base, radial blades on the base, and a, central hub integral with the base and blades, said hub extending below the base and supported directly on the bottom of the receptacle.

, THOMAS MICHAEL OKEEF'FE. 10 

